Chapter 3:

The Good Yet Bad

The huge thick doors opened in the Emperors palace. Ta Sang led Mulan and Shang towards the Emperor who sat down on his chair with pride and honor. Ta Sang bowed down in front of the Emperor. The Emperor saw Mulan and Shang and smiled, they were safe.

"Thank you Captain Ta, you may leave us now." Sang got up to exit the room and closed the doors behind him.

Mulan and Shang approached the Emperor and began to bow down before they saw his hand lift in the air to tell them not to bother with it. "I take it you know why you are here, do you not?"

"Yes, Captain Ta Sang told." Said Shang.

"I brought you here so that I know that you two would be kept safe especially for Mulan's sake. Knowing Chi Fu and what he has done in the past, I would not want to risk it." Announced the Emperor as he began to come down towards were the both of them stood.

"Thank you your highness." Replied both at same time in thanks.

"The Emperor nodded then turned towards Mulan and smiled, "Mulan, Do you mind letting me talk to Shang alone for a moment?"

Mulan shook her head, "Not at all your highness." With that she bowed down and headed towards the huge doors.

"Mulan" she turned around to face the Emperor. "My servant Hang Tai take you to you're room and Shang's." He then snapped his fingers together and out came a young maiden about Mulan's age. She stood right next to Mulan bowing down at the Emperor waiting for her order.

"Hang Tai, this is Mulan, the one who saved China." She looked at Mulan and bowed down to her.

"It's a pleasure Mulan." She said with sweet words.

"Please take her to our finest room and help her take her in her bags." Commanded the Emperor.

"Yes, your majesty." She bowed down once more and had Mulan follow her to her room.

"So, General how are things going for you two?" He asked.

"Fine sir, I couldn't be any happier." He said placing a smile on his face.

"Good...." He sighed heavily. "Shang I don't mean to do this to you and Mulan, but I need you to lead your army to try to find and capture Chi Fu. I know he is only one man but you don't know what kind of strange people lurk around here."

"It won't be a problem sir."

"Good then, Tomorrow morning you will leave." He smiled with satisfaction. Shang bowed down in respect.

"Thank you sir." He began to get up and walk towards the doors. How was he going to tell Mulan? Because knowing her, she would probably want to go with him. How would she take it? He pondered the whole way through the hallways trying to get to his room.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Hang Tai lead her inside a beautiful room all decorated, it seemed it was almost fit for a king. She sat the bags down on the bed while Mulan stared at the room in amazement.

She coughed a bit to get Mulan's attention. Mulan snapped her head towards her direction. "Do you want me to help you to unpack?"

"Sure!" They began to unpack, while they unpacked they had a friendly conversation that made them begin to get close as friends.

"So...The General came to your house, aw...that's so cute." Adored Hang Tai. They both giggled.

"He's really sweet and romantic. I couldn't be any happier."

"I wish I had someone like that to care for me."

Mulan looked at Tai with sadness, "Do you like anyone."

"Um....Well there is this...No! I shouldn't." Tai said stopping herself from going any farther.

"Why, it's not like I'm going to say anything."

She looked at Mulan, Why shouldn't she, Mulan had been so kind to her so far, plus she shared her own stories with her. "All right, You know that Captain Ta Sang, well....I like him." She blushed deep red.

"Did you ever tell him or talk to him before?"

"No! Are you crazy, I can't he's a Captain and I'm...we'll I'm just a servant." Mulan crossed her arms across her chest.

"What do you think I was? I was only a peasant girl who joined the army and fell in love with a Captain, thinking that I would never had a chance but look at me know I am married to him."

"But....."

"But nothing, talk to him, get to know him." Replied Mulan with confidence. Tai looked at Mulan, she was right.

"Ok, I will but do you think you can help me?" She grinned at Mulan making irresistible for her to say no.

"Sure, but the rest you have to do by yourself."

"Deal." She sighed with happiness then realized what the time was. "I probably should get going, good night Mulan."

"Good night Tai." Tai was out the door. Mulan frowned to herself feeling bad about not telling Shang about her little secret that she had been keeping for a couple days now. "I tell him tonight." She thought to herself.

Shang walked in the doorway to find Mulan getting up from lying down. She walked over to Shang who did not look so happy at first but smiled at the sight of her.

"Mulan...." He held Mulan tight into his arms.

"Shang, I have to tell you something."

"I have to tell you something also."

"You go first." She said as she put her hands around his neck and placing her head on his chest.

"I have to leave tomorrow with my men to look for Chi Fu." Mulan shocked by this, turned to Shang with a frown upon her face.

"But....But...You can't leave, not know, what if something happens to you? What will I do?" She said franticly.

"Mulan, Calm down, I promise nothing will happen to me." He said trying to comfort her.

"Shang, you don't understand, I...I...." Tears formed and began to stream down her face.

"What Mulan?" He replied bewildered. He wiped away the tears from her face and looked at her for the answer.

"I'm with child." She began to cry even harder because of fear. He looked at Mulan in surprise, she was pregnant. Though happy with the news, he was scared one question popped into his head. "What if something did go wrong and he wasn't her to help her?" He thought to himself.

He lifted her head and smiled at her, "you won't be alone, I promise you." She merely jumped into his arms and stayed there for a while for the comfort. She was scared she never did this before. She was scared that something could happen to Shang, her or the baby.

"Mulan look at me." She looked up at Shang who had a reassuring look on his face. "I love you with all my heart and wont leave you."

"Shang, I don't know if I can have a baby, I don't know of I'm ready."

"Mulan, you can do this I know you can, your strong you can go through this. And I will be with you the whole way." He smiled at her. She wiped away the tears and grinned at Shang.

He began to chuckle, she joined in, "Your going to have a baby." He announced joyfully. Mulan giggled at the thought.

"We're going to have a baby." She replied. He swooped her into his arms and swung her in the air. Making her giggle and laugh. He placed her down on the floor and cupped her face into his hands. He placed a warm and sensitive kiss on her soft, warm lips.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* The dark forest~*~*~*~*~*~*

Chi Fu stopped the horse and mounted off him. He tied it to a branch and began to walk towards the small light in the distance.

When he was close enough he could see the blazing fire. There were some small tents. A man came out covered in black clothing. Chi Fu did not recognize whom these people were not even what race or anything. They looked like black devils.

He tried to get a closer look by moving up but snapped a small twig in half. He cringed at the sound. The man suddenly looked in his direction. His black, old, clothing made him look like a black evil ghost.

He came closer and closer. Making Chi Fu nervous. The dark man then looked to his right, at more of the guys covered in the black clothing. Chi Fu backed up slowly when he hit something in back of him.

He looked up to see one of the dark cloaked man looking straight down at him. Chi fu let out a scream. The guy picked him up and stared at him. Chi Fu looked around now seeing that they surrounded him.

"Please don't....No............"

~*~*~*~*~*~*

Hope you like it so far, think of the dark black cloaked man as the guys in LOTR, the ones that keep following Frodo. Well please review and tell me what you think, Thanks!